The Portland daily press., 1887-04-18
The SIhAL0A BUBBLE.
A Returned COlonist's Story Of Life
at TopOlObampO.
The Settlers Experience Among the
Sand and Cactus.
RaVages Of the Small POx in the
Colony.
A Diet Of MuSh Composed Of Beans
and Water.
How the Maine People Struggled to
Get Away.
Albert Owens Credit Pentier and The
Serial System.
Previous Attempts Made to Found
Colonies in Sinalea.
Albert Owens Credit Peneier and The
Serial System.
Previous Attempts Made to Found
Colonies in Sinaloa.

One Of the Maine party which left here
last December to join the Credit Foncier
colonists at Topolobampo is at home after
enduring the hardships, priyations and
dangers of six weeks experience in Albert
Owens Mexican paradise of sand and cactus
plants. Mr.. Winslow l.. Rowe, OF this city,
who left Portland in the band Of eolonists
under the charge of the Rev. w. f. Eaton,
arrived here last Wednesday evening. Worn
out with che effects of his life as a colonist
Mr.. Rowe, after spending one night in Port
land, went to his fathers home In Alfred to
recover his lost strength. A reporter for the
PRESS saw Mr. Rowe Saturday and OBJ
tanned from him the story of the adventures
and wanderings of the Maine party during
their stay in Mexico.
Mr.. Rowe bears evidence in his sun
Drowned face to his soiourn in hot climate
and is reminded Of the effect of tropical
sun by the frequent headaches which are the
results Of a narrow escape from sunstroke
He Is in possession Of deal of interesting
matter, however, in relation to the scheme
which Rev. Mr.. Eaton called "The great
swindle of the age," and talks both freely
and vigorously Of the character and aims Of
Owen and..his Credit Foncier de Sinaloa.
With the aid of small note book in which
he had jotted down namesl and dates, Mr..
Rowe told the story of TopoIobampo and
the fortunes of its settlers, the substance Of
which is printed below:
The Story of TopoIobampo.
The Maine party Of colonists, with bright
visions of a future home on the shore Of
Topolobampo Bay in their minds and the
glowing pamphlets Of the Credit Foneier
Company, from which the material Of their
dreams was drawn, in their pockets, left
Portland on the Goth of December last.
The party, seventeen persons in all, was
composed of the following
Rev. ". F. Eaton, wife and daughter, Of Cape
Elizabeth.
Winslow L, Rowe Of Portland.
Orman Stubbs Of Portland.
Mr.. Kerry Of Portland.
@. Z. Chase OF Portland.
Howard Chase Of Portland.
III. w. Fletcher Of Portland.
Captain Bunker, wife and two children, OF
Portland.
]. +. Turner Of Deering.
Arvin Lewis OF Portland.
MIR. Hill and wife OF Portland
They had bought tickets from Portland to
Guaymas. the Mexican city on the Gulf Of
California, for s45 each, and each ticket
gave its holder the right to carry 800 pounds
of baggage. The first part Of the journey
was as pleasant as any collection OF pioneers
to new country could wish. They were
given good cars and eourteously treated. At
Chicago they were indebted to Mr.. j. II.
Wilson of the Chicago. Burlington and
Quincy route for many favors. But trouble
was brewing and the nearer the party got to
the colony, the harder became their ex-
perience. At Kansas City the first difficulty
arose in dispHte about the baggage. Extra
charges Of IS q hundred pounds were i'm
posed and pending the settlement of the
trouble the party remained here one day.
While waiting In Kansas City they were
Joined by MIR. Hawkins, who was destined
to play prominent part in their later strug-
giles at Topolobampo. The new conner began
his active work as colonist by staying be-
hind to look after the baggage and II was
through his efforts that it was finally deliv-
cred to the owners at Guaymas without the
collection Of the extra charges, which
amounted in all to S204. At Kansas City
Mr.. Hill OF Portland, who with his wife had
been Of the party, wisely concluded that he
long enough. He remained in Kansas City.
THE MEETING WITH OWEN.
When the party had reached small place
called Rycon, they first saw the head Of the
Credit Foncier while the train was wait
ing here" said Mr.. Rowe, "Mr. Eaton en-
tered the cars accompanied By a short. stout
man with dark, piercing eyes, regular cut
throat eyes. Mr.. Eaton introduced him as
Mr.. Owen. He talked awhile about his
scheme and we questioned him. He said to
us while we were talking with him, Il don't
care damn how many go to TOpOlobampo,
or how many are dissatisfied, it Is going to
be one man power for five years, anyhow
When asked how he was getting on with the
work, Owen replied; 'Splendidly, the wom-
en- are working with the men. They are so
pleased that they wouldn't leave anyway.
You couldn't shoot 'em off, No wonder he
couldn't shoot them off, they were dying too
fast.
"After this first interview with Owen.
Fletcher asked me what thought Of him.
said thought that he was cut throat. The
meeting with Owen cut the Maine men terri
bly,"
Mr.. Rowe found that his own opinion of
Owen was apparently shared by about every
honest man who knew him. All along the
road the party were told that the colony was
not what 1t had been represented to be, and
that Owen was a rascal. Notwithstanding
this, the company, which by accessions had
grown until 1t numbered 70 or so persons,
kept ON and reached Guaymas Dec. 30th,
just ten days after leaving home. Owen
had promised them he would look after their
delayed baggage, but he evidently gave him
self no trouble about it, and 1t was Mr.. Haw-
kinswho saw that 1t was properly forwarded.
AT 6UAYMAs.
1t was at Guaymas that the eolonists made
the acquaintance of Senior Aurilla SamdOval
He was Owens agent, receiving a salary Of
So day. Here the colonists were required
to pay in all their money. Fletcher was
made treasurer pro tenn, and the money was
paid to him and Hawkins. All the money
paid to Fletcher was receipted for, but Haw-
kins neglected to give receipts for some Of
that received by him. Afterwards he was
accused BY Mrs. Rowland who edits the
Credit Foncier, Of keeping back money for
II know" said Mr.. Rowe, ''that Hawkins
paid i'm $500. He paid $500 to Fletcher and
$500 to the captain OF the German barque
which took the party from Guaymas 70 Top
lobampo. Mrs. Rowland said he stole the
back, he kept more than he had paid In him
self. | paid in all | had, except 30 cents,
which / kept back for postage stamps. IL
didn't do me much good, however, Tor my
letters never reached nome,
At Guaymas the eol9niihts ,hs oog o9Hgat pToyls-
purchases consisted Of $500 pounds Of -four,
i5O0 pounds Of beans, quantities of coffee,
tea. baking powder, etc. They also laid In a
stock Of shovels, picks,grub hoes, nails, lum-
Der 10 build boat, two sides OF sole leather,
and pegs for making boots, soap, and other
articles This stuff was paid for out OF the
common fund.
THE LAST OF THE JOURNEY.
Having secured their provisions, the colo
a. 4.